Violence between Israel and the Palestinians is once again spiralling, with casualties mounting by the day.

Violence between Israel and the Palestinians is once again spiralling, with casualties mounting by the day.

Here are some key questions and answers about what is going on.

Here are some key questions and answers about what is going on.

What is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?

What is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?

There has been a spate of stabbings and gun attacks on Israelis by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli.

There has been a spate of stabbings and gun attacks on Israelis by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli.

The attacks, in which seven Israelis have died, have struck in Jerusalem and in northern and central Israeli cities and towns, and in the occupied West Bank.

The attacks, in which seven Israelis have died, have struck in Jerusalem and in northern and central Israeli cities and towns, and in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has tightened security and clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side.

Israel has tightened security and clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side.

The violence has also spread to the border with the Gaza Strip, with deadly confrontations across the perimeter fence between Palestinian protesters and Israel troops.

The violence has also spread to the border with the Gaza Strip, with deadly confrontations across the perimeter fence between Palestinian protesters and Israel troops.

A Palestinian mother and her two children also died when their home collapsed after an Israeli air strike on a militant site following a rocket attack on Israel.

A Palestinian mother and her two children also died when their home collapsed after an Israeli air strike on a militant site following a rocket attack on Israel.

Can Israel and the Palestinians contain spiralling violence?

Can Israel and the Palestinians contain spiralling violence?

What's behind the latest unrest?

What's behind the latest unrest?

After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September.

After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September.

It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement.

It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement.

Soon afterwards, two Israelis travelling with their four children were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank. Two days later the stabbing attacks began.

Soon afterwards, two Israelis travelling with their four children were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank. Two days later the stabbing attacks began.

Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities.

Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities.

Israel says the Palestinian leadership is inciting attacks, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas blames "acts of aggression" by the Israeli authorities and Jewish settlers for causing the latest violence.

Israel says the Palestinian leadership is inciting attacks, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas blames "acts of aggression" by the Israeli authorities and Jewish settlers for causing the latest violence.

Are the attacks being driven by social media?

Are the attacks being driven by social media?

While there is no clear evidence that the attacks have been centrally organised, Palestinians have taken to social media to celebrate and encourage them.

While there is no clear evidence that the attacks have been centrally organised, Palestinians have taken to social media to celebrate and encourage them.

In the wake of the first attacks, Hamas, the militant group which dominates Gaza, published a video online showing Arabs how to knife Jews. The staged scene, set to dramatic music, depicted two "Jews" bullying Arab children, before an Arab bystander knifes them both.

In the wake of the first attacks, Hamas, the militant group which dominates Gaza, published a video online showing Arabs how to knife Jews. The staged scene, set to dramatic music, depicted two "Jews" bullying Arab children, before an Arab bystander knifes them both.

The clip was removed from Hamas' YouTube channel after Israel's foreign ministry complained that it glorified violence and incited more attacks. Other videos praising and encouraging attacks on Israelis have also emerged on YouTube and Facebook, while Twitter hashtags including "Jerusalem Intifada" or "Intifada of the Knives" are gaining traction on Palestinian social media.

The clip was removed from Hamas' YouTube channel after Israel's foreign ministry complained that it glorified violence and incited more attacks. Other videos praising and encouraging attacks on Israelis have also emerged on YouTube and Facebook, while Twitter hashtags including "Jerusalem Intifada" or "Intifada of the Knives" are gaining traction on Palestinian social media.

Many of the attacks and aftermath have been filmed on mobile phones and CCTV, getting quickly uploaded and shared. Israeli officials have expressed fear that images of assailants being shot could fuel anger and inspire further attacks.

Many of the attacks and aftermath have been filmed on mobile phones and CCTV, getting quickly uploaded and shared. Israeli officials have expressed fear that images of assailants being shot could fuel anger and inspire further attacks.

Is this a new Palestinian intifada?

Is this a new Palestinian intifada?

There have been two organised armed intifadas, or uprisings, by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s.

There have been two organised intifadas, or uprisings, by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s.

With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third.

With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third.

The stabbing attacks seem to be random and opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups and Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction on social media, Mr Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation.

The stabbing attacks seem to be random and opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups and Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction on social media, Mr Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation.

However, there is a danger that the scale of attacks could intensify and become more orchestrated by militant groups, and beyond any control of the recognised authorities.

However, there is a danger that the scale of attacks could intensify and become more orchestrated by militant groups, and beyond any control of the recognised authorities.